Senate to vote on proposed Murray River inquiry

The Senate is expected to vote today on setting up an inquiry into getting water to the Murray River system's lower reaches.

The Greens intend to move the motion for an inquiry to pinpoint how much water is available to be moved to the lower lakes and Coorong and how the Government can acquire it.

The Greens say it would report back on emergency provisions by the end of September.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says she has asked all parties for their ideas and made amendments to the inquiry's terms of reference.

"I've incorporated a second phase to the inquiry to try and help bring all those people on board and I'm confident that if all parties in the Senate want to see us saving the Coorong and the Lower Lakes they'll support this motion," she said.

Moscow's words and actions — including the alleged poisoning of a former spy — are not the results of random aggression but rather fall into distinct patterns that can help us anticipate Russia's next moves under Vladimir Putin.